Support device for manual hair dryers in suspended position

ABSTRACT

Support device for manual hair dryers in suspended position, based on a “balance” mounted up high, equipped with a thread-like element, from which the dryer is hung, in order to be able to place it at the desired height, the joining device used to join the dryer ( 1 ) to the thread-like element ( 3 ) of the balance ( 2 ) being formed by a first ring-shaped body ( 4 ) attached to the dryer ( 1 ) body; a second ring-shaped body ( 5 ) with a pair of divergent axial arms ( 6 ) and; a handle ( 7 ), which is joined to the ends of the pair of divergent axial arms ( 6 ) of the second ring-shaped body ( 5 ), hung on the thread-like element ( 3 ) of the balance ( 2 ), the first ring-shaped body ( 4 ), attached to the dryer body ( 1 ), being guided rotationally by the second ring-shaped body ( 5 ) which clasps it, the manual hair dryer thus being suspended, thereby facilitating the use thereof, given that the user only needs to manually move or direct the dryer, without having to support it “freehand”, thus obtaining better working conditions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The following invention, as expressed in the title of the presentspecification, relates to a support device for manual hair dryers insuspended position, in such a way that, by means of the devicepresented, it is possible to position the manual hair dryer in asuspended position relative to a work station, by means of a balance,the hair dryer being used in said work station for quite a long periodof time, it being possible to adapt the static suspended position of thesame to the desired height, the aim being for the support device,through which the hair dryer is joined to the thread-like element hungfrom a balance, to facilitate normal use of the hair dryer.

Therefore, as the manual hair dryer is suspended, it is easier to usethe same, and the worker or operator must only manually move or directthe dryer, without having to support it “freehand”, thus obtainingbetter working conditions.

APPLICATION FIELD

In the present specification, a device used to arrange manual hairdryers in suspended position in fixed work stations is described, whichis especially designed for use in public hair-dressing salons, where theworker must hold the manual hair dryer during long periods of time,supporting it “freehand” throughout the working day.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, there are a great many fixed work stations wherein theoperators or workers must use an implement, such as a manual hair dryer,during their working day, in such a way that even if the same is lightin weight, since it must be handled for a long period of time, it endsup producing fatigue, which furthermore, with time, may escalate intoinjuries to the shoulders or back or other parts of the body.

Indeed, as it is well known, manual hair dryers are used a great deal inthe hair-dressing sector, thus meaning that, with the aim of being ableto dry hair in a better, more efficient way, the most powerful hairdryers available tend to be used. Nevertheless, these have the drawbackof being heavier and, as a result, accelerate the fatigue experienced byoperators.

Therefore, although manual hair dryers are not excessively heavy, thecontinuous use thereof, in addition to producing a certain level offatigue, frequently cause operators to end up suffering from shoulderand back pain as well, these problems being more acute amongst femaleoperators than male operators, as a result, generally speaking, of theirslighter build.

Furthermore, these drawbacks mean that, mainly, female operators, whoare more likely to experience fatigue and suffer from certain types ofback ache, try to use the lightest manual hair dryers possible, even ifthey have more powerful hair dryers that weigh more, in an attempt toreduce fatigue as far as possible.

Likewise, as is well known, manual hair dryers usually have acorresponding cable that serves to connect them to the power supply.This connection to the hair dryer is made at the free end of thegripping handle thereof, which usually makes handling the same usingeither hand difficult.

Similarly, in many fixed work stations, for example assembly lines,operators must use somewhat heavy manual tools that weigh a certainamount during their working day. These end up causing fatigue and evenpain, particularly back pain.

Indeed, in all of these cases, operators usually have to hold theimplement or tool “freehand” when using the same, only having some kindof support upon which to place the implement or tool when not in use.However, what are referred to as “balances” are also known about, whichsimply make it possible to keep a tool suspended.

One example of this can be found in document ES 1052081, property of thesame holder as that of the present document, wherein a “device forarranging tools in suspended working position” is described, the samebeing constituted by a flexible element that may be adjusted andpositioned, with a pulley to which the implement is linked, a cordpassing through this pulley, the ends of which are attached to theimplement, in supports of the shell thereof, the same being arrangedlaterally to the transversal gravitational axis thereof, in an upperposition, relative to the free end of the gripping handle thereof.

Document ES 1 070 451 might equally be quoted, which likewise pertainsto the same holder as that of the present document, wherein a “devicefor arranging manual hair dryers in suspended working position” isdescribed, which is based on a flexible element, which is attached tothe ceiling at one end and facilitates the regulation of the heightthereof, to which a pulley is attached, in such a way that the device isformed by a thread-like element that passes through the pulley, one ofthe ends of which is attached to the rear lower portion of the manualdryer and the other end thereof branching off into two arms, which areattached to the end of a semi ring-shaped body, guided by a centralgroove to a mortise around the frontal tubular body of the manual dryer,this manual dryer, in the lower rear portion, with an electrical cableconnection, having a first counterweight, with a second counterweight onthe free end of the gripping handle thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the present specification, a support device for manual hair dryers insuspended position is described, which aims to resolve the drawbacksmentioned, bearing in mind that the use of a simple “balance”, whichkeeps the hair dryer suspended at the desired height, is not valid,since the anchoring must enable normal use of the dryer, i.e. must beable to adapt to various positions and rotations.

For this reason, said device is based on a “balance”, which is mountedup high, the dryer being attached to a thread-like element thereof insuch a way that it remains at the desired height, where the joiningdevice used to join the dryer to the thread-like element is formed by:

-   -   a first ring-shaped body, attached to the dryer body,    -   a second ring-shaped body, provided with a pair of divergent        axial arms; and    -   a handle, which is essentially semi-circular in shape, that is        joined to the ends of the arms of the second ring-shaped body        and hung on the thread-like element of the balance,        the second ring-shaped body being guided rotationally by the        first ring-shaped body, which it clasps.

On its internal circular surface, the first ring-shaped body, attachedto the dryer body, has at least one pair of small lugs that fit intorespective hollows in the dryer body.

Moreover, on the internal circular surface of the second ring-shapedbody, a hollow is defined around the circumference thereof into whichthe first ring-shaped body fits, being perfectly guided and enablingrotational movement thereof.

In a practical embodiment, the first and second ring-shaped bodies aredefined by two half-bodies attached to one another, in such a way thatsaid attachment may be produced by means of anchoring screws.

Each half-body that forms the second ring-shaped body has an outwardsdiverging axial arm.

Furthermore, the divergent axial arms that are integral to the secondring-shaped body end in a small tab, these tabs being arranged inparallel and provided with a through-hole that joins to the handle.

In order to complement the description to be made below, with the aim offacilitating a better understanding of the characteristics of theinvention, the present specification is accompanied by a set ofdrawings, which provide an illustrative, non-limiting representation ofthe most characteristic details of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Shows a perspective view of a dryer equipped with a supportdevice for hanging thereof from the thread-like element of a balance,which is arranged up high and may be moved using a runner.

FIG. 2. Shows a view of the first and second ring-shaped bodies, itbeing possible to observe how, in the assembly thereof, the secondring-shaped body clasps the first ring-shaped body, as well as the pairof small lugs, which are diametrically opposed and present on theinternal face of the first ring-shaped body.

FIG. 3. Shows a view of the previous figure, it being possible toobserve the second ring-shaped body provided with a pair of divergentaxial arms that end in a small tab with a through-hole.

FIG. 4. Shows a view of FIG. 3 according to another relative position,it being possible to observe the second ring-shaped body provided with apair of divergent axial arms, which end in a small tab and remain in aparallel position.

FIG. 5. Shows a perspective view of FIG. 2, it being possible to observehow the first ring-shaped body is fitted into the internal circularsurface of the second ring-shaped body, a detail of a cross-section ofboth having been represented.

FIG. 6. Shows a frontal view of the first ring-shaped body, it beingpossible to observe the pair of small lugs on the internal circularsurface thereof and a detail of the positioning of the attachment screwsof the half-bodies forming the same.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In view of the figures mentioned and in accordance with the numberingadopted therein, it is possible to observe how, starting with atraditional dryer 1, a support device is linked to the same, in orderfor it to be hung from the thread-like element 3 relative to a balance2, which is arranged up high and may be moved in order to span a greaterarea within the work station.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, it is thus possible to observe how thebalance 2 is housed in a shell 14, to be attached to a runner (notrepresented), in order to enable the movement thereof, according toarrow “A”, in addition to being able to span a greater area within thework stations.

The support device is therefore fundamentally based on a firstring-shaped body 4 and a second ring shaped body 5, provided with a pairof divergent axial arms 6 and a handle 7, which is joined to the pair ofdivergent axial arms 6 and hung on the thread-like element 3 of thebalance 2.

The first ring-shaped body 4, defined by two half-bodies attached bymeans of screws thus has a pair of small lugs 8 on its internal circularsurface, which, in the assembly thereof, are fitted into respectivesmall complementary hollows in the dryer 1 body, remaining perfectlyattached upon joining both half-bodies by means of a pair of screws,arranged in secant position on the adjoining plane thereof.

In FIG. 6, it is further possible to observe how the first ring-shapedbody 4 is formed by two half-bodies, which are joined and attached tothe body of the dryer 1 by means of a pair of screws arranged in secantposition on their adjoining planes in corresponding hollows 13 thereof.

Moreover, on the internal circular surface of the second ring-shapedbody 5, which is equally made out of two half-bodies, there is a recessaround the circumference, into which the first ring-shaped body 4 fits,being joined to the same with the possibility of rotation, in such a waythat in the detail shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to observe saidconfiguration, presented by way of example given that it may be anyother form equivalent to the same.

The pair of divergent axial arms 6 integral to the second ring-shapedbody 5 end in a small tab 9, with a through-hole 10 that joins to thehandle 7, in such a way that in the assembly of said second ring-shapedbody 5, clasping the first ring-shaped body 4, said tabs 9 are parallelto one another, thus facilitating the handling of the dryer 1 duringnormal use, without any problems when it comes to rotating the firstring-shaped body 4 relative to the second ring-shaped body 5 anchored tothe handle 7 hung on the thread-like element 3.

In an alternative practical embodiment of the invention, the pair ofarms 6 may end in a tab 9 similar in width to the arm 6, as shown indetail in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

In this way, the device can be assembled simply and quickly, given thatthe first ring-shaped body 4 is firstly attached to the dryer 1 body,thus meaning that the two half-bodies forming said first ring-shapedbody 4 are arranged with the small lug 8 fitted into the correspondingsmall complementary hollow in the body of the dryer 1 and are attachedby means of a pair of screws arranged in the hollows 13 made to thisend.

The second ring-shaped body 5 is subsequently arranged such that the twohalf-bodies forming the same clasp the first ring-shaped body 4 and areattached by a pair of screws. In the various figures, it is possible toobserve how the two half-bodies that form the second ring-shaped body 5have protuberances 11 and 12 on their adjoining plane, in which thecorresponding screws that constitute the attachment there between areattached, whilst enabling the rotation of the first ring-shaped body 5relative to the second ring-shaped body 4.

In accordance with that described, the manual hair dryer 1 is arrangedperfectly in a static suspended position and when handled, furthermoremay be perfectly and simply directed towards the desired point, withouthaving to support the weight of the same, in turn resulting in improvedworking conditions.

Thus, using the thread-like element 3 of the balance 2, the height ofwhich may be adjusted and positioned, the dryer 1 is adapted to thesuitable height, in accordance with usage height, practically beingsuspended, in a weightless position, thus facilitating the handlingthereof, without having to support its weight, simply by directing ittowards the desired spot.

Ultimately, the device is to be used in manual hair dryers used inprofessional hair-dressing salons, thus making it possible for the dryerto remain in a static, suspended position, in such a way that operatorsonly have to direct it in order to use it, without having to support itsweight, this constituting a significant advantage in terms of use, sinceit prevents pain, mainly in the shoulders and back.

1. A support device for manual hair dryers in suspended position, saiddevice being based on a “balance”, which is mounted up high and equippedwith a thread-like element from which the dryer is hung, in order to beable to place it at the desired height, characterised in that thejoining device used to join the dryer (1) to the thread-like element (3)of the balance (2) is constituted by: a first ring-shaped body (4)attached to the dryer (1) body; a second ring-shaped body (5) providedwith a pair of divergent axial arms (6); and a handle (7), which isessentially semi-circular in shape, that is joined to the ends of thepair of divergent axial arms (6) of the second ring-shaped body (5),hung on the thread-like element (3) of the balance (2), the firstring-shaped body (4), attached to the dryer (1) body, being guidedrotationally by the second ring-shaped body (5), which clasps it.
 2. Thesupport device for manual hair dryers in suspended position, accordingto claim 1, characterised in that the first ring-shaped body (4), whichattaches to the dryer body (1) has at least one pair of small fittinglugs (8) on its internal surface that fit into respective smallcomplementary hollows in the dryer (1) body.
 3. The support device formanual hair dryers in suspended position according to claim 1,characterised in that on the internal circular surface of the secondring-shaped body (5) a hollow is defined around the circumferencethereof into which the first ring-shaped body (4) fits.
 4. The supportdevice for manual hair dryers in suspended position according to claim1, characterised in that both the first ring-shaped body (4) and thesecond ring-shaped body (5) are defined by two half-bodies that areattached to one another.
 5. The support device for manual hair dryers insuspended position according to claim 1, characterised in that eachhalf-body that forms the second ring-shaped body (5) has an outwardlydivergent axial arm (6).
 6. The support device for manual hair dryers insuspended position according to claim 1, characterised in that the pairof divergent axial arms (6) that are integral to the second ring-shapedbody (5) end in small tabs (9), arranged in parallel and provided with athrough-hole (10) that joins to the hanging handle (7).